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Method for programming an operating device for lighting means

Active Publication Date: 2007-11-22
TRIDONIKATKO GMBKH & KO KG
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] The interface may, for example, be connected to a bus or, in the form of a PLC interface, to the power supply network for transmitting the data / information, although it would also be conceivable to configure the interface for the wireless reception of external control commands and programming information. Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the interface, which in normal operation is primarily responsible for receiving the control commands for operating the lighting means, is at the same time used for receiving the information via which the firmware is programmed or updated. Compared with the prior art, the necessity of a separate programming input can in this case be avoided, which also in particular provides the advantage that the operating device does not have to be disconnected from the general illumination system and then connected to a separate programming device in a special way. There would in particular also be the possibility, for example, of the programming being carried out by a central control device which is at the same time also responsible for transmitting the external control commands for operating the lamp.
[0011] The firmware can therefore, for example, be programmed directly in a phase during which the lamp operating device is in operation. However programming when the operating device is in a standby state or in a disconnected state would also be conceivable. The command set which the interface uses for communication with the central control unit can then be changed, for example, via the programming. Communication with new users or other devices such as, for example, brightness sensors or the like could also become possible as a result. Moreover, the functionality of the operating device could also be changed through changing the firmware by giving the device new possibilities for activating the corresponding lighting means, for example. Finally, there is the advantage that upon subsequently detecting software errors, for example, the individual devices no longer have to be removed and reprogrammed, as the firmware can now be updated centrally via the bus or the power lines.

Problems solved by technology

This is complicated and, for example, in the case of lamp operating devices which are located at places which can only be accessed with difficulty, impractical.

Method used

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  • Method for programming an operating device for lighting means
  • Method for programming an operating device for lighting means

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first embodiment

[0022] The operation of the interface 5 as well as of the control unit 10 is in particular controlled by the firmware which is stored inside a memory 6. This memory 6, which in the represented first embodiment is a component part of the interface 5, therefore contains a program whose flow determines the way in which data which are received via the bus connection 4 are subsequently processed by the interface 5 and converted by the control unit 10 for activating the light source LA. For example, this firmware may be configured such that the lamp operating device 1 can be activated by means of digital commands according to the DALI standard.

[0023] Since the requirement to change or to expand the functionality of the lamp operating device 1 may arise in the course of time, there must be a possibility of being able to update the firmware which is written into the memory 6.

[0024] According to the first embodiment of the present invention, corresponding programming information for updatin...

second embodiment

[0028] In the second embodiment which is represented in FIG. 2 and in which the same components of the lamp operating device 1 are given the same reference characters the lamp operating device 1 is again connected to a bus line system 15 in order to receive from a central control device (not represented) control commands for operating the lighting means LA. Therefore a first interface 7 is again firstly provided, this being connected to a bus input 4 of the lamp operating device 1.

[0029] However the firmware which is stored in a memory 6 is now programmed by a separate second interface 8 which is provided solely for receiving the programming information for updating the firmware. This second interface 8 could again be connected to corresponding data lines, although in the represented embodiment the second interface 8 is configured for wireless communication. It would now be possible, for example, to use a portable programming device 17 which communicates via radio or infrared signal...

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PUM

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Abstract

The invention relates to a method for programming an operating device for lighting, wherein the operating device comprises firmware and an interface for receiving external control commands for operating the lighting. This method includes at least partially programming the firmware of the operating device or the interface by transmitting additional information to the interface. This can conveniently be accomplished while the operating device is in operation. Typical lighting of the invention is the type that includes an electronic ballast for gas discharge lamps.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of International application PCT / EP2005 / 013734 filed Dec. 20, 2005, the entire content of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference thereto.BACKGROUND [0002] The present invention relates to a method for programming an operating device for lighting means, in particular for programming an electronic ballast for gas discharge lamps. The present invention also relates to an interface for an operating device for lighting means, the interface being provided for receiving external control commands for operating the lighting means. [0003] The implementation of relatively large illumination systems in which a plurality of lighting fittings are controlled with regard to their operational behaviour from a central control unit has been distinctly simplified by lamp operating devices of the most recent generation. Modern operating devices are in particular capable of receiving external control commands f...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): H02J13/00
CPCH05B37/0254H05B37/0245H05B47/175H05B47/18
Inventor JUEN, REINHOLDKLIEN, DIETMARSTRIETZEL, CARSTEN
Owner TRIDONIKATKO GMBKH & KO KG